Preparation of Fine-Grained CeO2–SiC Ceramics for Inert Fuel Matrices by Spark Plasma Sintering

High-density (95.3–95.8%) CeO2–xα-SiC (x = 10, 20 vol %) composite ceramics have been produced for the first time by spark plasma sintering (SPS) as promising mineral-like materials for inert fuel matrices. The SPS of CeO2–SiC ceramics has been shown to be a three-stage process. The addition of α-SiC particles shifts characteristic temperatures of CeO2 sintering to higher values. SPS leads to an increase in the hardness, fracture toughness, and thermal conductivity of cerium dioxide-based ceramics.